R J Reynolds High School - Black and Gold Yearbook (Winston Salem, NC)

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THE BLACK AND GOLD 21 they had gained too much vantage and held him in their grasp. Sydney Carton's nobility asserted itself in his attitude toward Lucy and Darnay. He knew that he was not worthy of Lucy and did not ask her hand, but simply went to her, told her of his love, how she had been an inspiration to him, and left her with these words: '4For you and any one dear to you, I would do anything. If my career were of that better kind that there was opportunity or capacity of sacri- fice in it, I would embrace any sacrifice for you and those dear to you. The time was not long in coming when Sydney Carton had an opportunity to fulfill his promise and the sacrifice he made was nothing less than his own life. The night before the election, as he wandered about the city of Paris, he was, as Dickens says, like a tired man, who had wandered and struggled, and got lost, but who at last struck. into his road and saw its end. The next day as the knife of the guillotine came down on the twenty-third head, Carton laid down his life for Lucy. He was said, by those who witnessed the execution to have looked peaceful and sublime. And why should he not have looked so? Was he not accomplishing the purpose of his life in rendering Lucy a service? -Blanche Buxton, '13.

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Q0 THE BLACK AND GOLD Elirnm Qbur iinglizh Nutr Zfinnk Svghnrg Glartnn, an Svtuhg O ME SYDNEY CARTON is one of the noblest p ieroes ever portrayed. He was a man of bril- laff 'QQXNS-Lf' T-in , ,- . . . . . liant mind, excellent ability and good emotions, .II X Q! E 'ffffl 11,53 E ff -Y jlifgil but in spite of all these good traits there was something lacking about his make-up. This was the ability to rule himself, to use his talents. Carton was conscious of this blight upon him and this fact contributed to his un- happiness. Vwlhat can be sadder than the picture Dickens gives us of Carton overwhelmed with grief, after seeing his counterpart Darnay so happy and prosperous? lVith his unusual abilities Carton was capable of doing almost anything he wanted to, and could have been one of the ablest lawyers in London. Vvlhat Carton needed was something or some one to inspire him. The person who was capable of doing this proved to be Lucy Manette, who rep- resented to Carton everything good, pure and noble. Car- ton saw the quiet corner in Soho Square made home-like and happy by the presence of Lucy, VVhen he said to Lucy, H111 my degradation I have not been so degraded but that the sight of you with your father, and of this home made such a home by you. has stirred old shadows that I thought had died out of me, he is probably refering to dim recollections of his happy boyhood days when his beloved mother was alive. To Sydney Carton who had not known the joys of home life for so many years, the quiet home of Dr. Manette was a haven. It was after his visit here that Carton made the most desperate efforts to overcome his bad habits, but

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2,2 TH E BLACK AND GOLD Elie Elranzfnrmaiinn nf Silas Jllarnrr M Nw OHE people seem to think that the time of mira Wlarnei how Eppie changed the character of Q J FJ Nlarner, surely they cannot entertain the slight est doubt but that the transformation of Marner was a mira- cle. When we study the character of Marner after he was accused of the theft, we find in him all of the traits of a miser, an unbeliever in God, and one who is uninterested in his fellow men. He is entirely alone and lives simply for his gold. He worships his gold, glories in it, and day and night thinks of nothing else. In 717' A , Y , , . - Q, 'fi'-3' - . . . cles is past, but after they have read in Silas xi, X , :N ' 'M-T 'X' x, A Q ' . . jjffl e ' - ' ' - The people in Raveloe thought of Marner only as a wicked, harmful and ghost-like being, while in reality he was just a poor, lonely soul, perfectly harmless, with no desire to hurt any living creature. That he had good in him, is clearly brought to light when sunny little Eppie enters his life. It is a very dramatic moment, when Silas coming to his flreside. sees there what he thinks is his precious gold and reaching for it. Ends instead of the hard, cold coins the soft, warm curls of a little c-hild. We wonder why he does not show disappointment: but from that moment we see his life and character begin to change. First there is awakened in him memories of his early life, and then the attending of so fair a specimen of humanity as Eppie began immedi- ately to render him more human, and then, too, his mind became somewhat clearer. That the child loved him almost at once shows plainly that there was something good and lovable in him, for children have that peculiar instinct which makes them love the right person. If Silas had been a hard man Eppie would never have clung to him as she did. At one time Silas thought of nothing but his loom and